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The Magic Box Details

1951

70
from 168 members

The story of one of the men responsible for the invention of motion pictures. It depicts his life and the effect of his concentrated passion for photography on it. Read more

Starring	Robert Donat, Maria Schell, Margaret Johnston, Richard Attenborough
Director	John Boulting
Genres	Drama

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The Magic Box

The story of one of the men responsible for the invention of motion pictures. It depicts his life and the effect of his concentrated passion for photography on it.

Starring	Robert Donat, Maria Schell, Margaret Johnston, Richard Attenborough, Robert Beatty, Leo Genn, Joyce Grenfell, Marius Goring, Robertson Hare, Kathleen Harrison
Director	John Boulting
Studio	ELEVATION
Run time	DVD: 1 hr 43 mins
Certificate
Genres	Drama
Language	DVD: English
Released	Production year: 1951 To Rent: DVD: 25 Jun 2007

Critic's review of The Magic Box
View all (1)
- Written by Eric Ambler as a cinematic pageant for the 1951 Festival of Britain, this tale of William Friese-Greene, the... read more on Time Out
- 49924
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:20
Most helpful member's review of The Magic Box
View all members' reviews (4)
- - 0
  - 2
  For film buffs only
  
  This is a excellent portrayal of the pioneers of early cinema if you like photography you will enjoy this film. Try renting The lost world of friese green a ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 486744
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Great Yarmouth
  - 21 Oct 2007 at 18:30
Most recent members' reviews of The Magic Box
View all members' reviews (4)
- - 0
  - 2
  Dull, plodding and dated
  
  Slow and tedious bio-pic of William Friese-Greene, an English inventor - there were others elsewhere: the Lumiere brothers, Louis le Prince, Edison and more - ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 738086
- - davidbabsky
  - 5 reviews
  - Richmond
  - 05 Apr 2009 at 10:46
- - 0
  - 2
  Good
  
  This film is typical of fifties cinema, yet with its galaxy of British stars makes for intriguing viewing. Worth watching, but a bit too sentimental at times ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 666744
- - a customer
  - Barmouth
  - 30 Nov 2008 at 19:40
- - 0
  - 2
  All-colour drama documentary
  
  'The Magic Box' was made for the Festival of Britain in 1951 to celebrate the history of British cinema, but there isn't much celebration in it. ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 658194
- - a customer
  - Cardiff, Wales
  - 13 Nov 2008 at 08:51
View all members' reviews (4)
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Rating breakdown

168 Member ratings

100	20
90	9
80	50
70	38
60	34
50	5
40	5
30	1
20	3
10	3

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- The Magic Box
  
  The story of one of the men responsible for the invention of motion pictures. It depicts his life and the effect of his concentrated passion for photography on it....